Albert f



(No Model.) l

A. F. RANSOM. EXTBNSIBLB HORSE BLANKBT.

No. 544,591. Patented Aug,

UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT RANSOM, OF. BURLINGTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE BURLINGTON BLANKET COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

EXTENSIBLE HORSE-BLANKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,591, dated August 13, 1895. Applicationflled July 25, 1894. SerialNo. 518,524. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, ALBERT F. RANsOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Horse- Blankets; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in-l vention, such as will enable others skilled in to the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. l

My invention relates to horse blankets or covers, particularly to that class of covers worn by the horses when in the stable; and

it has for its object to provide an adjustable or extensible blanket or cover which can be zo readily adjusted in size to accommodate the particular horse on which it is to be used.

It has further for its object to provide an improved means for fastening the front or breast portion of the cover or blanket when on the horse. It has further for its object to provide improved means for strengthening and shaping that portion of the blanket which tits over the neck of the horse so as to assist in holding the blanket on the horse and pre- 3o vent it from slipping back and forth across the neck, and it has further for its object to generally improve the construction of the blanket or cover.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the construction and in the combination of parts hereinafter particularly described, and then sought to be specificallydefined bythe claims, refer- 4o ence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and in whichvIn the drawings, the numeral l designates the blanket, which is formed of two parts 0r sections 2 and 3, divided or separable from each other transversely, so that the two parts or sections can be adjusted longitudinally or lengthwise of the horse, thus permitting it to be lengthened or shortened to suit the length ofthe horse. One section or part will lap upon the other part, as illustrated, and suitable means will be provided for securing the two parts in their adjusted relation. As a suitable means for the purpose I| have illustrated a series of staples 4, secured at suitable distances apart to the sec-tion 3 by means of a tape 5, which will pass through the staples and be stitched to the section 3, so as to secure the staples thereto. The section or part 2.is provided with slots or eyes 6 to register with the staples 4, so that the staples may pass therethrough, and a band or strap l 7 of fabric or other suitable material attached at one end to the sectional part .3 may be date the length of the horse on which it is to be used. It is preferred to extend a leather strap 8 along the section 2, where the slots or eyes are to be formed in that section and to secure the same by stitches or otherwise to the section, thus strengthening the section, the eyes or slots being formed in said leather strip as well as in the fabric forming the blanket proper. This feature of extensibility of the blanket is of especial Value where vthe blanket is formed at its rear with a hood 9.

This hood, as employed on blankets made un der a previous patent granted me, causes the blanket to lfit to the rump of the horse and down over the dock or vertebral part of the horses tail in such manner as'to guard against the possibility of the blanket slipping or being worked from off the rump, and to enable this hood to discharge its function with the I-OS highest degree of satisfaction it is desirable that the blanket should approximately correspond to the length of the horse, so as to bring the hood into the proper position for the full discharge of its function. It is accordingly desirable that provision should be made for adjusting the blanket to suit the length of the horse, so as to allow the hood to properly fit to the horse to discharge its function. By forming the blanket in two sections or parts transversely the necessary adjustment can be effected.

In order to strengthen the blanket and to give it such shape where it passes over the neck that it will be prevented for slipping back and forth over the neck, I stitch or otherwise secure a gore 10 to the blanket at the point where it tits over the neck, so that this gore will lie on opposite sides of the neck, and I also form the blanket into a fold or roll 1l along the edge that ts around the neck, so that this roll or fold and this gore will impart such comparative stiness to the blanket where it fits over the horses neck that it will 25 shape the blanket to the neck and tend to hold it in the shape thus given to it, so that there will be less tendency or liability of the blanket to slip or seesaw back and forth over the horses neck.

For the purpose of imparting additional strength to the blanket at its forward portion about the shoulders of the horse, where there is the greatest wear on the blanket, I stitch a gore l2 to the blanket on each side of its forward 0r breast portion, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and -to impart additional strength at the point where considerable strain comes on the blanket from application and manipulation of the fastening means for the breaststraps I stitch -gores 13 to the blanket, thus materially increasing the durability of the blanket.

The blanket is provided with the transverse bands 14s and 15, and suitable fastenings 16 to said bands for securing the blanket to the horse. The blanket is also provided with the breast-straps 17, and wire or other suitable hooks 18, for securing the blanket at the breast portion.

For the purpose of getting a tie or fastening band of increased strength for the breast of the blanket I extend or continue the end of one of the breast-straps 17 beyond the hook 18, to form a cord or tie of sutlicient length to lace a number of times around the hooks 18, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the strap or band at the point where it leaves the base of the hook 18 being folded upon and stitched to itself, so as to make the tie sufficiently narrow for manipulation and so'as to impart additional strength thereto.

tended portion of the breast-strap forming, the tie for the breast of the blanket, is designated by the numeral 19.

I have described and illustrated With particularity the preferred form and construction of parts embodying my invention, but it is This eX obvious that changes can be made in such details without departing from the essential features of my invention.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is- 1. An extensible horse blanket or cover formed of two parts transversely separable and lapping one over the other at or near the middle of the blanket so as to permit longitudinal adjustment to increase the length of the blanket without leaving an open space between'the adjacent edges of the two sections, means for securing the two sections together, in various longitudinal adjustments thereof, and means for securing both sections to the horses body, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. An extensible horse blanket or cover formed of two parts or sections transversely separable and lapping one over the other to admit of lengthening the blanket without leaving an open space between the adjacent ends of the two sections, means for securing the two parts together in their various adjustments, a hood to the rear portion of the blanket adapted to fit down over the dock or vertebral portion of the horses tail and be adjusted by movement of one section, and means for securing the blanket to the body of the horse, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3A. An extensible horse blanket or cover formed of two parts or sections transversely separable, one part or section being provided with staples arranged longitudinally of the blanket to pass through slots or eyes in the other part or section, and a band or strap ru nning longitudinally of the blanket and attached to one section and adapted to be threaded through said staples for the purpose of securing the two sections together, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. A horse blanket or cover provided with breast straps and with lacing hooks, ,said hooks being arranged on opposite sides of the breast portion of the blanket with the ends of the 4hooks turned outwardly and in opposite directions to each other, one of the breast straps being extended and free beyond the hook on that side of the blanket for the pur- ICS pose of forming a lacing cord with which to 4 

